Urban Ventures is a new urban consulting organization, formed in 2003, with the ambitious goal of shaping and supporting collaborative efforts that lead to significant and measurable improvements in the quality of American urban communities. We work mainly with foundations and nonprofits. Where possible, we seek to join the ideas and resources of the independent sector with those of government and the private sector to expand the scope of programs and projects and their impacts on urban places. Urban Ventures was formed in the belief that results do matter, and results at scale matter even more. Focusing on results requires attention to how ideas, organizations and resources come together to achieve them. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the urban revitalization field, where the persistent problems of poverty and disinvestment in many cities and whole regions are leading to a fundamental reexamination of current strategies and practice.

Urban Ventures brings together a network of creative and seasoned professionals who share a commitment to innovation and to making the best possible use of limited resources. The organization is headed by Tom Burns, an urban planner and management consultant with 30 years of experience. The organization’s small core staff supports a national network of urban professionals that are brought together in project teams tailored to the needs of individual engagements.

The organization’s engagements are varied, encompassing organizational strategic planning, new program development, applied research and evaluation. Clients include national and local funders, place-based partnerships and collaboratives, and individual nonprofits. Nearly all of its current work is directed toward projects that extend current practice, expand upon practices that work, and establish funding and financing mechanisms for promising new ventures.

Every project the organization undertakes employs a learning-while-doing approach that integrates the varied experiences and perspectives of everyone involved. Where possible, planning and execution happen together to achieve clearly articulated innovation goals.

Urban Ventures is headquartered in Philadelphia and maintains a small office in Los Angeles.